Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
Centre Tyrel Seaman is the Brandon Wheat Kings’ top prospect for this week’s National Hockey League Entry Draft. (FILE PHOTO)
Tyrel Seaman is taking nothing for granted going into this week’s National Hockey League Entry Draft.
The 18-year-old is the Brandon Wheat Kings’ top prospect for the draft, being ranked 104th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Seaman tried to put the draft out of his mind during the Western Hockey League season but with the first round coming up Friday and the rest of the picks to be made Saturday, his focus can’t help but draft and his potential future in the sport.
"I’m just nervous a bit, wondering if I’ll go or when I’ll go," said the native of Choiceland, Sask., who has been contacted by a small number of teams. "I’m excited for it and whatever happens will be good I’m sure."
While his Central Scouting ranking pegs him as a likely late-rounder, Seaman was slotted 97th among all players by the independent Red Line Report and where he might fit into the draft is up in the air.
A strong start to his sophomore season in the WHL had him much higher up the draft board, sitting 50th in the mid-season rankings, but concussions kept him out of all but one game between Nov. 25 and March 10, and it remains to be seen if and how that is taken into account by teams.
"I felt I had a strong first third of the year until I got injured," said the 6-foot-2, 207-pound centre, who had six goals and 19 points in 32 games. "And then it was just tough getting back to speed when I did return in March."
A pair of Wheat Kings could be picks in their second year of draft eligibility. Swiss winger Alessio Bertaggia is ranked 164th among North American skaters after totalling 24 goals and 50 points in 64 games. Goaltender Corbin Boes, who finished third in the WHL with a .916 save percentage, was unranked by Central Scouting but was rated 187th overall by the Red Line Report.
Killarney native Reid Gow of the Spokane Chiefs is ranked 150th by the Red Line Report after dropping off of the Central Scouting list.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Wheat Kings season tickets are up for sale after seat-moving day on Tuesday, where fans could swap their tickets for different seats.
As of Friday’s early-bird deadline, the Wheat Kings had sold almost 1,700 season tickets. While that number is down about 300 from last year, owner/general manager Kelly McCrimmon said it’s difficult to read too much into the numbers.
"We weren’t able to announce our prices until our lease agreement was done," he said. "That shortened up our window to sell tickets or to renew tickets a little bit so that factored in somewhat. I think we were real encouraged with how busy we were. … We were real busy last week heading into the deadline.
"I’ve always said with the season-ticket figures, you don’t ever want to have a period where you’re trailing far behind the previous year, but really until you get to October 1, you’re never sure if you’re going to reach the levels that you choose or if you’re going to be down or up from last year’s figures."
AROUND THE WHL: The Eastern Conference scheduling meeting took place in Regina on Monday, with the regular-season schedule to be announced on Wednesday, June 27 … Prince George has signed C Jansen Harkins, the second overall pick from this year’s bantam draft. Prince Albert has signed its top three picks, including the third overall selection, D Brendan Guhle, while Kamloops has gotten commitments from its first two picks, led by C Jayden Halbgewachs, who was chosen 19th overall.
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition June 20, 2012
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Tyrel Seaman is taking nothing for granted going into this week’s National Hockey League Entry Draft.
The 18-year-old is the Brandon Wheat Kings’ top prospect for the draft, being ranked 104th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
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Tyrel Seaman is taking nothing for granted going into this week’s National Hockey League Entry Draft.
The 18-year-old is the Brandon Wheat Kings’ top prospect for the draft, being ranked 104th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
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